Circulating RNA differences between patients with stable and progressive idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis

Idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF) is a chronic disease characterised by progressive decline in pulmonary function. The rate of decline can vary, with some patients remaining stable over longer periods of time and others rapidly progressing [1]. tThe variable progression of this disease makes it difficult to elucidate pathogenic pathways involved in the initiation and progression of IPF. Advances in high-throughput gene-expression analyses have led to improvements in our understanding of disease biology and prognostic gene signatures. We hypothesise that IPF has a unique circulatory transcriptional profile compared to healthy controls, with additional differences between stable and progressive disease likely related to disease pathogenesis. Footnotes This manuscript has recently been accepted for publication in the European Respiratory Journal . It is published here in its accepted form prior to copyediting and typesetting by our production team. After these production processes are complete and the authors have approved the resulting proofs, the article will move to the latest issue of the ERJ online. Please open or download the PDF to view this article. Conflict of interest: Miss Clynick has nothing to disclose. Conflict of interest: Dr. Jo has nothing to disclose. Conflict of interest: Dr. Corte has nothing to disclose. Conflict of interest: Dr. Glaspole has nothing to disclose. Conflict of interest: Dr. Grainge has nothing to disclose. Conflict of interest: Dr. Hopkins has nothing to disclose. Conflict of interest: Dr. Reynolds has nothing to disclose. Conflict of interest: Dr. Chapman has nothing to disclose. Conflict of interest: Dr. Walters has nothing to disclose. Conflict of interest: Dr. Zappala has nothing to disclose. Conflict of interest: Dr. Keir has nothing to disclose. Conflict of interest: Dr. Cooper has nothing to disclose. Conflict of interest: Dr. Mahar has nothing to disclose. Conflict of interest: Dr. Ellis has nothing to disclose. Conflict of interest: Dr. Goh has nothing to disclose. Conflict of interest: Dr. Baltic has nothing to disclose. Conflict of interest: Miss Ryan has nothing to disclose. Conflict of interest: Dr. Tan has nothing to disclose. Conflict of interest: Dr. Moodley has nothing to disclose.